Germany had 75 percent possession. They outshot Paraguay 21-7, earned 16 corner kicks, and spent nearly two hours camped inside Paraguay’s half. None of it mattered. Gustavo Alfaro’s side defended with absolute conviction for 120 exhausting minutes, keeping the game at 1-1 before Orlando Gill saved two penalties in a dramatic shootout, giving Paraguay a 4-3 penalty kick victory and their first World Cup knockout win since 2010. Against one of Europe’s traditional powers, Paraguay once again proved that football matches aren’t won on paper. They are won by teams that know exactly who they are.
Paraguay Won the Only Way They Know How
There are prettier ways to play football than Paraguay, but Gustavo Alfaro has never pretended to care about aesthetics. His team is compact, disciplined and relentlessly physical, defending every inch of the pitch with complete concentration before striking when opportunities finally appear. It is the same blueprint that carried Paraguay through the brutal grind of CONMEBOL qualifying, and the same identity that has now helped two South American nations eliminate Germany at this World Cup after Ecuador’s group-stage victory.
Julio Enciso, who entered the tournament with questions surrounding his fitness after suffering a thigh injury in Paraguay’s final pre-World Cup friendly, delivered the breakthrough. The young forward, routinely double-marked and fouled whenever he touches the ball, rose to head Paraguay into the lead before departing after 57 minutes. It was all Paraguay needed. Once ahead, the match unfolded exactly as Alfaro envisioned. Gustavo Gómez marshaled the back line, José Canale threw himself into every challenge, Orlando Gill continued the tournament of his life, and Germany slowly became more frustrated with every passing minute.
Kai Havertz eventually equalized, but Paraguay never lost its composure. Germany had possession. Paraguay had relentless discipline.
Forged in CONMEBOL
South American qualifying is a format that perfectly that prepares CONEMBOL teams for games like these. Paraguay had already beaten Argentina and Brazil on the road to this World Cup, learning how to defend under relentless pressure against some of the game’s biggest stars. Germany’s attacks never felt unfamiliar, and they were far less creative.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side monopolized possession but rarely looked comfortable. Florian Wirtz struggled to find attacking help despite playing well, Leroy Sané endured another frustrating evening, and Deniz Undav failed to change the match as a starter, despite being one of the super subs of the World Cup. Defender Jonathan Tah thought he had found the winner in extra time, only for the goal to be ruled out for goalkeeper interference, as his header was annulled.
Germany completed far more passes than Paraguay. Paraguay couldn’t have cared less. Every clearance, every blocked shot and every aerial duel pulled the match further toward the style of football they wanted to play.
Orlando Gill’s World Cup Arrival
Penalty shootouts always contain an element of chance, but Orlando Gill ensured this one belonged to Paraguay. The San Lorenzo goalkeeper saved two German penalties to complete one of the breakout performances of the tournament, capping an extraordinary rise for a player who was his club’s third-choice goalkeeper only a year ago.
His story mirrors much of this Paraguay squad. Miguel Almirón now plays (again) for a struggling Atlanta United in MLS, after years in Europe. José Canale fought simply to establish himself at Lanús. Andrés Cubas rebuilt his career in MLS. Gabriel Ávalos has spent years facing criticism in Argentina. Even without Omar Alderete and Diego Gómez, two of their most accomplished European-based players, Paraguay never looked for excuses.
As Bolavip Argentina noted after the match, Alfaro has built this win with players many clubs had nearly given up on.
Gustavo Alfaro’s Warriors
After the final whistle, an emotional Alfaro called it the greatest victory of his coaching career.
It was difficult to argue.
Since taking over Paraguay in 2024, he has transformed a team many believed had fallen behind the rest of South America into one capable of standing toe-to-toe with Europe’s elite. His squad is built less on household names than on sacrifice, organization and complete trust in one another.
Alfaro spoke to the media about reminding his players exactly where they came from.
“The ones we have in front of us come from training at top-level academies in Europe. We come from the red earth. The stripes on our jersey are the red earth, where they played barefoot thanks to the sacrifice of their parents.”
His players embodied every word. Gómez and Canale played all 120 minutes. Paraguay made just two substitutions in regulation before using fresh legs in extra time to continue chasing every loose ball. They refused to lose concentration, even as Germany threw wave after wave of attacks toward goal and cycled the ball near their box. Paraguay didn’t commit a penalty, they dared Germany to shoot at Gill from range, but the Germans chose not to do.
Captain Gustavo Gómez summed it up perfectly afterward.
“Germany knew they had to sweat blood if they wanted to beat us.”
They did.
It still wasn’t enough.
The World Finally Heard Paraguay
Outside South America, Paraguay often exists in football’s shadows. They don’t produce endless superstars, dominate transfer headlines or arrive at World Cups surrounded by hype. What they do produce are teams that reflect the country’s character—organized, resilient and willing to suffer longer than their opponents. While Germany relied on Bundesliga pedigree, Paraguay trusted the hardened core that had been forged in the Brasileirão and across CONMEBOL, where every point must be earned. Germany learned that lesson over 120 exhausting minutes.
Paraguay will never be the flashiest team remaining in this tournament, and they won’t control possession in any of their remaining games at this World Cup, including a likely meeting with tournament favorites France in the Round of 16. They don’t need to. Gustavo Alfaro has built a side that understands exactly how it must win, and every player has embraced that identity completely. This was Paraguay’s first World Cup knockout victory since 2010, and after eliminating Germany as heavy underdogs, the rest of the football world finally has no choice but to pay attention.
Main Photo Credit: Smartframe Images
